Ok, rapes not funny, but this guy's comments are too gbajiesque to go unrecognized here.

Missouri Senate Nominee Todd Akin wrote:

"It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare," Akin said, referring to conception following a rape. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.

All Republicans to your damage stations!! He is now backtracking fast on this statement. Mitch has stated abortion in rape cases will not be stopped by him.

Actually, he's not (on either part, the legitimate rape argument or the magical ability of a raped woman to stop conception). He's simply saying that he could have said it better.

Todd Akin wrote:

As a member of Congress, I believe that working to protect the most vulnerable in our society is one of my most important responsibilities, and that includes protecting both the unborn and victims of sexual assault. In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it’s clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year. Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve.

I recognize that abortion, and particularly in the case of rape, is a very emotionally charged issue. But I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action. I also recognize that there are those who, like my opponent, support abortion and I understand I may not have their support in this election.

But I also believe that this election is about a wide-range of very important issues, starting with the economy and the type of country we will be leaving our children and grandchildren. We’ve had 42 straight months of unacceptably high unemployment, trillion dollar deficits, and Democratic leaders in Washington who are focused on growing government, instead of jobs. That is my primary focus in this campaign and while there are those who want to distract from that, knowing they cannot defend the Democrats’ failed economic record of the last four years, that will continue to be my focus in the months ahead.

I feel like I heard an almost identical quote here recently, something that this guy or his ilk said in the past couple of years.

Well, it was mentioned in the omnibus election thread as well.

The identical part might have been because this guy and Paul Ryan co-sponsored a bill to change the legal definition of rape. Apparently Akin lost the memo that all rape is "legitimate" rape, not just rape forced through violence.

Edit: N.C. State Rep. Henry Aldridge said much the same back in 1995:

Quote:

"The facts show that people who are raped - who are truly raped - the juices won't flow, the body functions won't work and they don't get pregnant," said Representative Henry Aldridge, 71, a Republican and a periodontist - a dentist specializing in gum disease.

"Medical authorities agree that this is a rarity, if ever," he added. He spoke during a debate about abolishing a state abortion fund for poor women.

"The facts show that people who are raped - who are truly raped - the juices won't flow, the body functions won't work and they don't get pregnant," said Representative Henry Aldridge, 71, a Republican and a periodontist - a dentist specializing in gum disease.

"Medical authorities agree that this is a rarity, if ever," he added. He spoke during a debate about abolishing a state abortion fund for poor women.

With intellectual heavyweights like this it's a wonder the Republican party is actually viable. Shame on anyone who actually votes for this moron.

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"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." --Albert Einstein, (1879-1955), "Religion and Science", New York Times Magazine, November 9, 1930

From what I know of Missouri (read: I know a guy who lives in Kansas City), a cardboard cut-out with a mustache stapled to its face could win against McCaskill so long as it was running on the GOP ticket.

As long as the cardboard cut-out didn't make any stupid remarks about rape.

Maybe in theory. In practice, Akins in being threatened, coerced and begged to drop out because the GOP knows he's toxic. Several superPACs have said they're pulling out of the state and the RNC told him he's on his own if he stays in.

Plus I got to listen to Hannity begging him to drop out on the way home tonight.

Rep. Todd Akin (R-M) said that despite some media reports, he is not leaving the Missouri U.S. Senate race, Politico reports.

Said Akin: "I was told that there is a decision has to be made by 5 o'clock tomororw but I was calling you and letting you know that I'm announcing today that we're (staying) in."

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Akin saying, "I'm not a quitter."

That was the impression I took from his Hannity interview so I'm not surprised. Of course, Nate Silver earlier tweeted that the problem here was that anyone stupid enough to say his remark wouldn't be smart enough to know to drop out. So there's that as well.

The Republican Party is once again set to enshrine into its official platform support for "a human life amendment" to the Constitution that would outlaw abortion without making explicit exemptions for rape or incest, according to draft language of the platform obtained exclusively by CNN late Monday.

And to think some people still pretend the abortion issue is "states right" thing and not really about a blanket ban at the federal level.

This is so weird. Akin says something scientifically wrong, gets raked over the coals for it by both parties & even Rush. Yet, the GOP, at their convention this week, plan on making a constitutional amendment against abortion, with no exceptions for rape or incest their party's official platform. This isn't a mistake, mind you, like that typo in the bill a couple months back. Amendments were offered to include these exceptions, but were defeated.

Maybe I live in a bubble here in Massachusetts, but Scott Brown (R-Senate) thinks this is ridiculous (it is). Sure, he can't beat Warren here & support outlawing all abortion, but I don't think Republicans can win the Presidency, let alone take the Senate & not lose House seats if this is their platform.

Thank you Akin?

Edited, Aug 22nd 2012 9:22am by Omegavegeta

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"The Rich are there to take all of the money & pay none of the taxes, the middle class is there to do all the work and pay all the taxes, and the poor are there to scare the crap out of the middle class." -George Carlin

"The Rich are there to take all of the money & pay none of the taxes, the middle class is there to do all the work and pay all the taxes, and the poor are there to scare the crap out of the middle class." -George Carlin